Are you for real????

Last week I had an experience that made me feel very discouraged. Let me preface the whole situation. I called this woman in the morning because I needed to be fitted for a dress to be in an orchestra. I called her the morning on the day that the fitting was scheduled. Mind you there was no call by date or anything I was just told to call her. So anyhow while talking to her on the phone she started lecturing me that I should call earlier and implied that I was a rude person. I felt upset by the whole situation because all she needed to so was to say I'm sorry but I need advance notice for this. I would have been fine with that. I did not need a lecture!!! The whole day I was thinking to myself get over it everything is fine. Forgive, forget and move on. So I did, but then that night I got there and I was there right on time. I was being very courteous and told her I was sorry. After I tried on the dresses I found what I thought looked great on me. I went out and said I like this and she said well try on a smaller size. I was greatful for that, but then when I came back out to have her make sure that it looked all right she said well your tummy will go down after you get up and chase after your kids more. I was like, "Are you for real????" I did not say anything because I was shocked. I have lost over 30 pounds since January. I still have 5 more to go, but really? I could not believe that she said that. I mean really!!!! I left as soon as I could because I was so shocked. Anyhow it has caused me some grief these past few days and I'm struggling to get over this. I was feeling so great about what I had accomplished and was feeling real great because I'm getting so much faster in my running and I have more energy to chase after the kids and then she implies that I'm fat. Good grief. I need to get over it so if anyone has suggestions on how to move on please feel free to share.

Another funny thing.....

After swimming lessons last night we stayed and played for family swim time.  We had such a great time with the kids.  When it was time to go Brooke had to go to the bathroom.  Since it had been a long time I said, "Ashley why don't you come with us to the bathroom?"  Her reply was this and very loud, "Because I all ready peed in my swimsuit."  Well at that point it was too late to do anything but laugh!!!  Sorry for all those who went swimming while we were there.  When you gotta go you gotta go!!!

Death by Halogen Lamp

While Carol and I were updating the blog, this poor fly flew into the room and was drawn toward the halogen lamp next to the couch.  One moment later, we saw smoke rising from the lamp and the fly had met its end.  Goodbye fly.

We are still alive.

So much has happened since we last posted.  We did make it to Utah.  Yes it was a long drive and yes I would do it again!   The highlight of our trip was stopping in Minnesota and staying with the Teeples.  They were so gracious and we had such a great time!!!!!  

Since coming to Utah we have been so busy.  Mike worked and studied for the Utah BAR while I tried unsuccessfully to unpack and keep the kids happy and busy.  

Mike did take the bar and so today we went hiking at donut falls and then we stayed after the kids swimming lessons to play.  We have had such a fun day.  The kids loved being outdoors.  Max did not want to stay in the back pack we borrowed he wanted to run with the girls.  We did let him down and he was so happy to be free to run and pick up the rocks.  I was amazed at how well he kept up.  

On our way to swimming lessons today we said to Ashley look at the fire truck (which was right out her window, big and yellow, couldn't miss it) and she said exasperated, "but I can't see it"  to which we all laughed.  

Here are a few pictures for your enjoyment.

Funny conversation

On our way home today from church we had quite the conversation with the girls.  Brooke said, "Why is it called a sleepover when you're supposed to stay awake?"  I replied yea they should call it a wake-over.  That got Mike laughing.  Anyhow Brooke started to ask if she could have a sleepover and I said, "Let's wait until we get to Utah and then we can have a slumber party at our new house."  Of course she was excited about this.  Then I said we could have the party downstairs and everyone could sleep in a sleeping bag.  This got the juices flowing and she and Ashley were in the back saying, "We'll do make up and paint our nails and eat m & m's and have a pillow fight."  Ashley said, "and we can play Star Wars and I'll be Luke."  Brooke said, "We'll all have to be Princess Leah because we are all girls."  Ashley said, "but I want to be Luke."  Anyhow Mike and I were laughing so hard because they were throwing out all these fun ideas.  It will be fun to have some space to do some of these things that the girls have only heard of.  

Random pictures!!!

Brooke lost her first tooth.
Best friends!!!!!!  I love this picture.
They sure love dresses.  I have no idea where that love came from!!!
Max is past crawling, but I thought this was cute.

On April 25th we celebrated Max's 1st birthday!!!!  Its so much fun to have these great kids!!

In April we celebrated 2 birthdays!!!!!!  Ashley turned 4 on April 9th.  We celebrated her birthday on the 18th and had a great Star Wars birthday party.  Mike even made light sabers for everyone and they each got to do a Jedi training course and fight Darth Vader.  

This video is from a few months ago but was definitely blogworthy. 

Beach days are returning

The beach is called us, so we answered.

All in a days work

Hahahahaha.  So I can't get my pictures to come up on the blog.  We have never had this problem before.  Sorry.  I will try to figure it out and get some pictures posted.  For now you'll just have to trust me when I say that my kids are adorable!!!!

Blogging is not my talent!!

Blogging is not my talent. That is a no brainer!!! I am going to post a few pictures and give a few updates.

Brooke has lost two teeth!!! Ashley can sing the Star Wars song in tune!!! Max walks!!! Mike survived a 5k run on Saturday!!! I have survived 3 months of sick kids!!!

Kids grow sooo fast!!!!

Brooke woke up last week with a loose tooth and today she lost it!!!  I can't believe we are old enough to have a child old enough to lose a tooth.  It has been hilarious to watch her be so giddy about it.  Ever since she started kindergarten she has been asking me when she would get a loose tooth and it took her until she was 6 and a half.  

Ashley is as sweet as ever.  I have no idea what to do with her.  Her interests are legos and playing in the bucket of wheat.  I need a playground for her and a backyard to come with it. Maybe my wish will come true in the next year or so.

Max is trying to walk.  He constantly is watching Brooke and Ashley and wants to join in with them.  He is cracking us up.  He gets so excited that he tries to run.  He had his nine month check up last week and he weighs 23 pounds and is 30.5 inches long.  He weighs half as much as Brooke.  I also took him to get some shoes and he needed a size 6 wide.  

Since the "secret" is no longer a secret we are moving back to Utah.  Mike has a great job at a firm in Sandy and we are very excited.  We really wanted to surprise our families and just show up, but Mike was too excited and the girls found out so we decided to tell them yesterday.  We are taking a road trip with the girls out there when it is time to go.  We are so excited to do this because we have never taken a family vacation with just the 5 of us.  We are excited to show the girls different church history sites and we are looking forward to doing a whole lot of swimming.  We hope all is well.  I hope to get some pictures of everyone put on the blog this weekend.  

The funny things our kids are doing

Max is trying to run these days.  He took his first 3 steps today and it was dang cute!!!!!  He is crawling so fast and it is so much fun to watch him.  He loves to wrestle and watch his sisters play.  He dances to music and makes as much noise as he can whether its banging things or yelling at me to pick him up.  He enjoys eating way too much, but it is nice to have a child that will eat.

Ashley is always keeping us on our toes and keeps us smiling.  Today Mike was asking the girls if we ever move into a house if they would want to share a room or have a room of their own.  Of course Brooke's reply was quick and she said she would want her own room.  Little Ash sat for a minute thinking about it and then she said, "When Brooke gets out of bed and goes downstairs in the middle of the night IT WILLY BUGS ME!!!"  So she obviously wants her own room.  One day when we win the lottery and get a 4 bedroom house then they will each have their own room.  

Brooke has the oldest child syndrome and is quite bossy!!!  She is a big helper with Max though and she is starting to help out more and I really appreciate it.  She is an awesome speller and loves doing math.  She has also showed more interest in reading and writing.  She is a great little student and her teacher says that she is one of the most courteous and respectful students that she has and that makes me so happy.  She really struggled with the bus last semester so we now take her and pick her up which makes us all a whole lot happier!!!

Mike is busy doing school.  He really enjoys all that he is learning in the tax program at BU.  He helps out so much on the weekends and when he is here and I feel so blessed to have that help. He "wants" (more like I want him to do this with me for fun!!!! hehehe) to do a half marathon with me in May, but we'll see if he'll be able to pull it off.  He says he'll ride his bike.  

I am busy with Relief Society and the kids.  I'm not teaching as much and I feel much calmer now that I only have to leave once a week to teach instead of teaching 4 days a week.  I am enjoying training for the half marathon in May and yes I will run it.  I have been training with a friend that lives in my apartment complex.  It has been nice to have a training buddy because I have not had one since before I got married.  

I will try to get some pictures up this week.  

We love you all!!!

Good Things!!!

So the other day Mike was talking with the girls around the dinner table. Ashley was on his lap. Mike asked Ashley what she wanted to be when she grew up and her reply was, "A Sand Picker"!!! We laughed so hard. No ballerina, dancer, doctor just a sand picker!!! I love that about Ashley she is her own little person and does not let others influence her. I hope that she continues this forever!!!!